Citizen views of crime and policing

With regards to crime, 13.7% of those polled reported that they or someone in their family had been the victim of a crime in the preceding three months. Of those who had been victims, however, 64% did not report the crime to the police. Presumably those victims either believe that reporting will do no good or that there will be reprisals against them if they make a report.

Despite the majority of victims not reporting crime to the police, Salvadorans have a positive view of the National Civilian Police (PNC). 54% have a positive view of the PNC compared to only 21% with a negative view. These results were obtained yet 16% of Salvadorans report that they have been mistreated by the police at some point in the past.

Crime has a big impact on public life in El Salvador. 77.6% of those polled do not feel safe on city buses, 73.4% do not feel safe in public markets, and 63.3% do not feel safe in city centers.